Entering its sixth year, the Pipeline program began classes this week with more than 60 high school students from Brooklyn, Queens, Hempstead and Uniondale. The program is designed as a multi-year four-week summer program for young scholars from economically disadvantaged areas, and serves as an integral part of the medical school’s core mission to advance and nurture a diverse and inclusive learning community.

“We are pleased and honored to once again receive this award from the Pinkerton Foundation,” said Lawrence Smith, MD, MACP, founding dean of the School of Medicine. “The Pipeline Program reflects our school’s strong belief that our future physicians and healthcare professionals need to reflect the growing diversity of our surrounding community and country at large.”

Funds from Pinkerton will help to provide the Pipeline program with Kaplan (P)SAT preparation courses for the 11th and 12th graders, as well as CPR/AED training classes and a host of educational activities. The program at the School of Medicine works collaboratively with the Gateway Institute for Pre-College Education at The City College of New York to recruit and support minority public school students in their higher education goals and pursuit of health careers.

In fact, 18 Pipeline scholars are off to college this fall at schools such as M.I.T., Yale University, Trinity College, Cornell University, and Syracuse University. What’s more, three scholars will be enrolled at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at the City College of New York and one plans to continue undergraduate studies in the BS-BA/MD program at Hofstra University. This year’s Pipeline Program includes 25 rising 11th graders, 24 rising 12th graders, and 12 entering college freshmen.

“With the assistance of a professional college consultant working with our high school junior and senior scholars,” said Gina Granger, coordinator for special programs, “I’m confident we will continue to see our scholars develop the skills needed to successfully gain admission to undergraduate and health professional schools.”

Featured image: The 2014 graduates of the Medical Scholars Pipeline Program showing off their college acceptances.